Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-27
Opening Of Spring After q
Mild Winter.
The Yakima Indian Reservations sSne
Words and Statistics About Wheat,
and the Prospects Of the Pa
ture Yakima Wheat
Fields.



the past winter has the snow been more
than six inches deep ct this place or be
tween this place and the mouth Of the
river, q distance Of ebout 100 miles, nor
has the snow remained on the ground
more than two weeks at any enc time.
nor more than month in tbe aggregate.
Throughout the winter the weather has
been moderate in temperature, and the
result 10 that stock on the range is In
comparatively good condition. and the
loss has not been more than per cent.
Sheep have done unusually well, and
the loss from cold weather or exposure
las been nothing 10 speak Of. Farmers
generally are iubilant over the prospects
for good crops and better markets than
heretofore. The fall Of rain and snow
combined has been sufficient to insure q
good Yield. and the heavy SHOWS in the
mountains will furnish an abundant
supply Of water for the springs and
streams Of Eastern Washington. Many
immigrants are already arriving and
locating upon Government aud railroad
lands, especially In the Lower Yakims
country. The Horse Heaven district is
rapidly filing %, and also the Snnhy
Side region, lying east and south be
tween this place and the Columbia
river. North YAkims Is improving and
preparations are being made for the
construction Of several brick buildings
during the coming season.
THE YAKIMA INDIAN RESERVATION.
One Of the finest bodies Of land in the
western country Is contained In the va
kima Indian Reservation. About one
million acres Of laad are hefe reserved
for the use Of certain Indian tribes,
much Of which ia Of the finest quality,
with climate unsurpassed for health
or for agricultural or stock growing pur-
poses. It ia claimed that there are
about 5000 indians who have an inter
est In this land. bot there are only from
seven 10 eight hundred residing on the
reservation. The remainder are rowing
bands who hunt aHd fab aIoHg the Col.
umbia River from the mouth Of the
OkaHoRan 10 the Cascade. taking With
them their bands Of ponies, some of
which are very valuable owing 10 the
admixture Of the American with the In
dian stock Of horses. Government Off
oials are nov examining the surveys re.
GENTLY made on this reservation with a
view OF locating the Indians on home
steads 10 severalty, and II is expected
that this action will sooa be taken in so
c0rdanoe with the present policy Of the
Government With reference 10 Indians
generally In the Western Territories,
bat how soon II will be done no one can
tell. Owing TO the wise aud efficient al .
ministratlon OF Father Wilbur, who was
for many years the agent Ia charge Of
this reservation, succeeded blythe equal
" faithful and efficient General 4. II.
Milroy, the Indians thereon have made
excellent progress In agriculture,
RAISING LARGE CROPS
OF grain. hay. and vegetables, and own.
ing valuable bands OF horses and herds
OF cattle that roam at large over the
vide and beautiful range In their posses
sion. These Indians have made con
siderable progress IN self government
and In TIE duties OF citizenship. They
elect their own magistrates. and these
magistrates enforce the laws With
viRor. occasionally at least. which would
pat the efforts Of some Of their white
brethren 10 the same direction 20 the
blush. They understand thoroughly
individual rights Of property, are AMI.
Gus 10 own land ia several'y, a. we'll as
cattle, horses, etc. but, whilst willing 10
take hOmesteads, they desire the re
nainder Of the Reservation, after they
have all bees supplied With lands In
seVeralty. 10 be reserved for n general
pasture for the use Of all the Indians
who NAV be located on the lands Of the
Reservation. This idea ia not exactly
In harmony With the needs OF The
white man." or the progress OF the
country and Will not probably be car.
ried oat. The Northern Pacific Rail
road runs through these lands in an Al
most perfectly straight line for about
81 miles, AVID has four stations upon
them, and many an old settler. AZ well
a. incoming immigrant. IL anxious 10
see them devoted to some more uasfoI
purpose than the support of rowing
bands Of ponies aud cattle. The policy
OF requiring the Indians 10 break no
their tribal relations TO take hamesteads
and conform 30 the habits aud rules Of
civilized life IL undoubtedly correct.
when this Ia done the Indian question
will be edeotaally settled. and the large
reservations now set apart for them
may be opened mp for settlement.
SOMETHING ABOUT WHEAT.
"Blessed be the man who raiaeth
wheat IL Persian proyerh, "a old as
history itself. There is usually an M
DERIVING truth in cid proverbs. and u
there Ia Ia this case. Eastern Was inc
Son should be prosperous country. II
u estimated by competent judges that
the surplus wheat crop in this part %
the Tertiary the coming season will
amount 20 bOO,0uo tons. When 10 IL re-
membered What very small fraction Of
the iands here available for wheat
growing are under cultivation. a faint
idea may DO formed OF its capacity in
the future.
IN THE EooNoaIH or THE HUMAN 8AcE,
Wheat has always occupied leading
position. As the cenutrv increases ia
wealth and population. ~ the value OF
It's wheat producing districts increases
In corresponding proportion. ExpsFi-
ence haa demonstrated that Ia many Of
the older sections Of she country crops
OF wheat deteriorate from wear % wear.
until there are many which do not aV-
erags, 81 late years. more than eight
bushels per acre, and therefore in those
sections wheat cannot nov BE- cult
waited With proht The exports Of wheat
from the valley Of the Mite were esti
mated 10 have BEEN At one tiIae glOD
0o bushels, chiefly SHIPPED t. the Re-.
man market. The enormaus inpoFta
lions o. wheat Of late wears into tbe
leading countries 81 Europe, from the
Uaited States, India, Australia, South
America. Canada and ELSEWHERE. tnd,.
cate the decline Of those countries in the
elements required for this important
cereal.
Thls decline is manifest in our own
country, Shere even IN California, aud
much mere notably ia some Of the older
States, lands which we're once aud for
many years devoted 20 the growth Of
wheat are hsw being utilized fer other
purposes. Ia Eastern Warrington ~.
conditions Of SOL sud climate arr espe
ciaiiy favorable foE the prodaet.sn 81
whess, Its volcanic sell, apparently IN
exhaasiible, aud les dry climate furniSh
the necessary conditions for IT. rxtau-
sive and pFonAhls caiiivauoh. Net
withstAnding the Large pr,sduc,sou q
wheat in India south Amegfcs ana Ana
tFalia, u is becoming manifest that the
northwestern portion % tbo U0iiFd
states is tie real granAry - The wsriA
striking illusirstiaA q the growth
aud develop ent ~ thr c1autrv nssy
- F.ar.A -. a.